Hiker dies after lightning strike on Utah mountain
The gist
Lightning struck a summit shelter on Utah's Mount Timpanogos, killing a 19-year-old hiker and hurting nine.
The death shows how exposed the popular peak is and how little sheds protect.
How it unfolded
- Sep 18, 2026Lightning struck the Tin Shack near the Mount Timpanogos summit, where a group of ten hikers had taken shelter from an approaching thunderstorm; a 19-year-old man was critically injured and nine others suffered minor injuries.
- Sep 18, 2026The Utah County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team responded to the incident at around 06:00 MDT.
- Sep 19, 2026The 19-year-old man was pronounced dead on the mountain; hikers had alerted authorities at about 6 a.m.